In Shakespeare's "Macbeth," Lord Macbeth's transformation from innocence and optimism to guilt and depression, is best displayed in his soliloquy in Act Five, Scene Five. Through Shakespeare's use of dialogue, the audience is given insight into Macbeth's thoughts as he reflects on his change in character and his new view of the world. Through this scene, Shakespeare issues a warning: do not be like Macbeth. As Macbeth commits transgressions he becomes numb to the world, realizes the brevity of life, and ultimately loses his desire to live. .
Macbeth arrives at his impassive state due to his numerous treacherous acts. Macbeth admits that at one point, he would have been startled by a scream in the night, but instead he "has almost forgot the taste of fears. He can barely remember what being afraid is like. Once frightened easily, Macbeth is now familiar with horrors. Macbeth is an example of how corruption renders one unfeeling and unhappy. Through the compilation of his sins, Macbeth grows accustomed to evil and numb to the world. His sad state acts as incentive for the audience to turn away from similar paths as Macbeth.
Though Macbeth admits to an incapacity for emotion to some degree, his gloomy view of human life and of the world makes observable his true feelings of melancholy and ultimately speaks to the regret he feels for his actions. To Macbeth, the days pass by relentlessly and unceasing. Rather than learn from our mistakes, "yesterdays have lighted fools the way to dusty death." Macbeth only sees mistakes and inevitable death. This quote demonstrates his belief that humans do not learn from the past and only repeat the mistakes of history. Furthermore, Macbeth compares life to a "brief candle,"" a "walking shadow," and "an hour." In Macbeth's eyes, life is depressingly short. Humans cannot overcome such short time on earth to find meaning in life. Life is purposeless, and once one commits a mistake, there is not enough time left to fix it.
